Incandescent-lamp socket and cut-out



(No Model.)

M. J. WIGHTMAN 8v H. LEMP.

INGANDESGENT LAMP SOGKET AND GUT-OUT.

2 k/m g n n a.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MERLE J. \VIGHTMAN AND HERMANN LEM'P, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

lNCANDESCENT-LAMP SOCKET AND CUT-OUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,159, dated June 21, 1887.

Application filed August '27, 1856.

'[0 (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MERLE J. WIGHTMAN and HERMANN LEMr, citizens of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Electric-Lamp Fixture for Incandescent Lighting, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to the socket-piece 0 containing the circuit-controlling mechanism for the lamp and the means by which the lamp-terminals are connected to the circuit and the lamp held in place.

The object of our invention is to construct an incandescent-lamp fixture which is simple in construction and which permits the lamp to be easily inserted and removed from the circuit.

It has also for its object the constructing of the socket-piece out of molded insulating material, and, further, to insulate every accessible point of the fixture, for the reason that the i11- vention herein described has been designed more particularly to be used with lJiglr'LCliSlOn currents.

The invention consists of a socket piece made entirely ofinsnlating material which is fireproof, and that is molded in the form to be used, which socketpieee is supported by the leading-in wires which are insulated, and

has in its interior a non-conducting circular base-plate having contact blocks mounted therenpomwhich are connected with the leading-in wires, and in one of which is journaled a key having a metallic end diagonally slotted,

with a pin working in said slot and carried by the latter block. The eontact-blocks also carry circnit-completing springs for establishing the circuit of the lamp and supporting it. The exposed end of said key is made of insulating material, and the key is adapted to have alongitudinal movement when rotated,so as to bridge the contact-blocks and cut the lamp out of circuit. The sockctpiece above is also provided with screw-caps of insulating material for covering in the top of the socket-piece.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which like letters of reference indicate like parts, Figure 1 rep 5,0 resents a partly sectioned side view of our fixture; Fig. 2, a partly sectioned side view at right angles to Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 shows a Serial No. 211,991. (No model.)

transverse section of Fig. 2 through the center of the socket-piece.

In the drawings, C represents a tubular casing or socket-piece of molded insulating material, and has screw-caps i and C for covering the upper part of the socket-piece and embracing the lcading-in wires L L. which are suitably insulated. In the interior of this socketpieccis a circular base, B, resting upon a ledge. This base has contact-blocks c a, so cured thereto byscrcws, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) the said contactpicces being provided with bindingscrews for the leading-in wires, and having depending therefrom metallic springs s sol' the configuration, shape, and length shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These springs are adapted to make contact with themetallic terminals of the lamp and to snpportthe lamp. The filament of the lamp is connected with two flat terminals, '6 t, which are insulated from each other by mica or any other insulating material, t, and are expanded below the point at which the globe of the lamp is sealed 7; into a bulbous portion, 1), adapted to fit in the 7 expansion formed in the springs s s.

The contact-blocks above referred to are provided with raised portions, which have a recess in each adapted to receive the shank of the key 7.. The block 0 is provided with a pin, 1), which passes through a diagonal slot in the shank of the key. The block 0 journals the key in whatever position it is placed. This key is hollow and is slitted at the end, which is adapted to make contact with the block 0 when the key is rotated, and thus short-circuit the lamp. The key, as will be seen, is mounted so as to be given an axial movement toward or from the contactblock 0 when it is rotated by means ofthc pin working in the slot. The circular base B is held from rotating by a pin, 0, which takes in a depression in the screw-cap C.

The operation of the devices is as follows: Supposing the key to be rotated and drawn out of contact with the contact-block c, the lamp is inserted by forcing the terminals it between the springs s s. This, however, does not establish the current through the lamp, for the reason that it is shortcircuited by the contact of the springs s s. Vhen, however, the terminals '6 tare inserted farther, so as to separate the springs s s, the current through.

the lamp becomes established the contact of the springs s s and s s with the terminals.

' When the bulbous portion b of the terminals reaches the expansion in the springs s s, the lamp becomes firmly secured in position, and may be readily removed from the circuit by withdrawing it. This affords ready means for inserting and removing a lamp. \Vhen the lamp is in the position shown in Fig. 1, and the key is turned as shown-in Fig. 2, the current will be short-circuited at the contactblocks 0 and c, by means of the metallic end of the key, and when thekey is turned in the opposite direction this short circuit will be broken and the current will flow through the lamp. It will be observed that the socketpiece 0 extends beyond the neck of the lamp, and that by the. means we have provided the current is insulated at every accessible point, and there is no danger ofa person receiving a shock in handling the lamp.

\Ve have designed this socket-piece particularly for use with high-tension currents, and it is necessary therefore to carefully insulate every exposed portion of the fixture. The socket-pieceand its screw-cap, however, could be made of metal instead of insulating material where low-tension currents are employed.

So far as we are aware,we believe ourselves to be the'first to provide a socket-piece for incandescent lamps made entirely of molded insulating material, and one which is fire-proof when so molded, and also to insulate every accessible portion of anincandeseentlamp fixture. This fire proof insulating material, which can be molded in any desired shape, is

'known in the trade as bonsilate.

Having now fully described the devices of our invention, which may be varied in many the current as the key is rotated.

2. In an incandescent-lamp fixture, circuit sisting of contact-springs mounted upon an insulating-base and making contact at different distances from said base, those at the greatest distance therefrom forming a bulbous opening, and an incandescent lamp having fiat metallic terminals insulated from each other, forming a springs apart and complete the circuit of the lamp,while supporting the lamp by the eugagement of the bulbous portions.

3. In an incandescent-lamp fixture, circuit completing and supporting mechanism con sisting of contact-springs supported by contact-block's mounted upon an insulatingbase and making contact at different distances from said base, those at the greatest distance therefrom forming a bulbous opening, an incandescent lamp having flat metallic terminals insulated from each other, forming a bulbous expansion and adapted to force said springs apart and complete the circuit of the lamp, while supporting the lamp by the engagement of the bulbous portions, and a rotary key journaled in one of said contact-blocks, having means for giving said key a motion toward and from the other block,with which it is adapted to make contact as the key is rotated.

4.. In an incandescent electriclamp fixture, the combination of the'eontact-springs s s and s s, the former forming a bulbous opening for supporting the lamp, with an incandescent lamp having insulated terminals t 25, provided with a bulb, b, for the purpose set forth, and operating as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 27th day of July, 1886, in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

MERLE J. WIGli'lilIAN. [L 8.] nrmnmu LEMP. [L s] \Vitnesses: I

WM. E. SHEPARD,

OLOF OFFRELL.

completing and supporting mechanism conin contact with the other block to sliort circuit bulbous expansion and adapted to force said 

